Koh Samui, Thailand and the wonderful beach (Part Six)

One of the highlights of my visit to this island was when our driver took us to a semi-secluded beach. By this time, we were on the opposite side of the island and have driven off the beaten path a little. Our Australian friends were dying to have a swim and so our Canadian guide had talked our driver into taking us here. I don't have a lot of story for this area, but I have some pictures to share with you.

Beach on Koh Samui, Thailand

We had plenty of time to enjoy the sun and relax. I was absolutely amazed with this place. Granted, the sun is still not out much, and I can't fully explain how beautiful this area was, but trust me, I wanted to stay here for weeks. There was a wonderful quietness with just the sound of the ocean waves.

Beach on Koh Samui, Thailand

It wasn't difficult to find a hotel right on the beach. There were a few small cabanas and hotels that were lined up along the sand. As I explained in my last post, hotels on this island can be had for very little money. Since these would be considered very desirable, some were considered cheap at $60 per night for simple accommodations on the beach and some where expensive, running about $260 per night. This place was a very nice resort with private cabanas.

"Sala Samui" resort on Koh Samui, Thailand

I enjoyed watching the locals walk along the beach, along with the few tourists who happen to be staying here. Everyone seemed extremely relaxed and didn't have a worry in the world. There was a man who was selling silk sheets and beach blankets as he walked in front of the people laying out in the sun, but he never pestered anyone. Usually vendors in Thailand will simply smile gesture politely with their product and nod politely if you're not interested.

Vendor on Koh Samui, Thailand

I tried to capture a good photo of the beach to show it's size and depth and beauty, but I guess I wasn't with it that day. A photo tends to capture everything, including the bits of palm husks on the ground, along with the odd piece of trash that has blown from a nearby guest. However, it was so nice there that I never noticed these things until I looked at the photos.

A beach on Koh Samui, Thailand

Another man was selling corn on the cob and was able to butter it for you right there. People love being able to stay in their comfortable chairs and be served various foods and drinks. I can't imagine why?? Even though the hotel prices are slightly higher here, it is easy to eat by way of vender more very little.

Vendor on Koh Samui, Thailand

We walked up and down that beach several times, just taking in the environment. I  decided to chat a bit with some of the locals who worked there and took some photos of them. Very nice people. This man had an interesting look about him. I find that Thai people don't mind their photo being taken if you politely nod and smile while indicating your camera. Their society is certainly one of consideration for others, so a little kindness goes a long ways here.

Koh Samui, Thailand local

This youngster had decided to take a nap on a hammock. What a tough life!! His family members were working at the beach and were so nice to talk to. The Thai people are generally so kind and just wanted to make sure that we were having a good time.

Taking a nap on the hammock

After a dip in the ocean, the small group of us decided to sit down and have a drink at the restaurant that was open to the ocean breeze. We grabbed a table and ordered. The prices at this nice venue on beach were very reasonable. It was easy to get an entire meal for a few dollars (in Baht). One of my favorite things to do in tropical destinations is to have a fresh coconut cut open and then drink the water inside. It's very good for you and tastes great. It's especially good when you're sweating a lot, since it has a lot of potassium. Even in a nice place, it was only about $1.50, served chilled. They give you a spoon so that you can scoop out the coconut and eat it. These types of coconuts are not like what you see in the grocery store. The ones you drink from are called "Young Coconuts" and are still green on the outside and picked from the trees. The  coconut is easier to eat and doesn't have to be graded or scrapped out like the older brown ones do.

Koh Samui, Thailand locals

Grandmother and baby were happy to be enjoying the beach and the cool breeze. They were part of the family that worked in the open cabana. You can get items for the beach, as well as being able to hire the Jet Ski for an hour or more. Although the weather wasn't perfectly bright and sunny, I thought I'd upload just a small clip of the beach and the waves that day. It's a nice relaxing sound and helps you to imagine what it was like there.

On the beach in Koh Samui, Thailand